Tander's Race, Todd Kelly's Round

Tander's race win was not only his first race victory for 2005 but his first since winning the Bathurst 1000 endurance classic in 2000 with Jason Bargwanna. Todd Kelly's second place earned him the round win which was the first time in 2005 a driver has won two rounds, in this case also back-to-back.

With his win in race three, Tander finished the round second overall, with his teammate Rick Kelly third overall for the round after starting race one in 20th place.

There were mixed fortunes for other leading contenders. Steven Richards continued his recovery from race one dramas to finish race three in fourth, while Marcos Ambrose finished ninth just ahead of Craig Lowndes after a race long battle as they recovered from their race two dramas.

However Mark Skaife went the other way, starting second but ending the race in 26th after a slow pit stop saw him caught in the pack, coming into contact with other cars which late in the race saw him suffer a flat tyre.

All this drama has shaken up the points standings. Marcos Ambrose continues to lead, but Steven Richards has moved past Russell Ingall into second with Todd Kelly right behind Ingall with Mark Skaife still well placed in fifth.

As the field left the grid on the formation lap Russell Ingall was left stranded, and although he got a push start, he was then unable to restart under his own power when he returned to the pits and was out before the race began.

When the race got underway Kelly led away once more from Mark Skaife, with Garth Tander, Jason Richards and Rick Kelly close behind, Tander keeping right on the tail of the leading HRT duo.

Tander was the first of the leaders to pit, coming in on lap six. Todd Kelly and brother Rick pitted a lap later, Todd Kelly rejoining ahead of Tander but before the lap was half over Tander passed Todd Kelly.

Skaife was in on lap eight but a slow stop cost him several positions, leading to some contact with Paul Morris in the laps ahead.

A stranded Anthony Tratt brought the safety car out on lap seventeen. The race restarted on lap nineteen, Tander leading Todd and Rick Kelly, Steven Richards who had charged his way up the order and Jason Bright.

Despite another safety car period and some late race pressure from Todd Kelly, Tander went on to win the race ahead of Todd Kelly, with Rick Kelly third ahead of Steven Richards and Glenn Seton as Jason Bright faded late in the race to eighth place.

Result of Race Three, SkyCity V8 Supercars Darwin, Hidden Valley Raceway:

Pos  Driver              Car
 1.  Garth Tander        Holden Commodore VZ
 2.  Todd Kelly          Holden Commodore VZ
 3.  Rick Kelly          Holden Commodore VZ
 4.  Steven Richards     Holden Commodore VY
 5.  Glenn Seton         Ford Falcon BA     
 6.  Steve Ellery        Ford Falcon BA     
 7.  Steven Johnson      Ford Falcon BA     
 8.  Jason Bright        Ford Falcon BA     
 9.  Marcos Ambrose      Ford Falcon BA     
10.  Craig Lowndes       Ford Falcon BA     
11.  Paul Dumbrell       Holden Commodore VY
12.  John Bowe           Ford Falcon BA     
13.  Max Wilson          Holden Commodore VZ
14.  Paul Weel           Holden Commodore VZ
15.  Jason Richards      Holden Commodore VZ
16.  Craig Baird         Ford Falcon BA     
17.  Jamie Whincup       Holden Commodore VZ
18.  Paul Morris         Holden Commodore VZ
19.  Jason Bargwanna     Ford Falcon BA     
20.  Mark Winterbottom   Ford Falcon BA     
21.  Steve Owen          Ford Falcon BA     
22.  Cameron McConville  Holden Commodore VZ
23.  Matthew White       Ford Falcon BA     
24.  Greg Ritter         Ford Falcon BA     
25.  David Besnard       Ford Falcon BA     
26.  Mark Skaife         Holden Commodore VZ
27.  Paul Radisich       Holden Commodore VZ
DNF  Alex Davison        Holden Commodore VZ
DNF  Simon Wills         Holden Commodore VZ
DNF  Andrew Jones        Holden Commodore VZ
DNF  Greg Murphy         Holden Commodore VZ
DNF  Anthony Tratt       Holden Commodore VY
DNF  Brad Jones          Ford Falcon BA     
DNF  Russell Ingall      Ford Falcon BA